A career criminal jailed for narcotics charges will serve up to 23 years in federal prison, the U.S. District Attorney said today in a oppress release.
Marion Lamont Flowers, 45, pleaded guilty to trafficking in. fentanyl, crystal meth and cocaine on Feb. 9, The U.S. Attorney’s Office said. He was sentenced today to serve up to 23 years in federal prison.
In 2020, Whiteville Police, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and State Bureau of Investigation began surveillance of Flowers on suspicion of drug trafficking. Over the course of seven months, undercover operatives made seven purchases of cocaine and meth from Flowers. On July 20, 2021, an informant made arrangements to purchase a kilogram of methamphetamine – roughly 2.2 pounds – from Flowers. Flowers was arrested when he went to the buyer’s location to complete the sale. Investigators recovered 893 grams of 97 percent pure meth, more than $2,000 in cash and a loaded handgun.
Officers then raided the rooms at the Econolodge where Flowers was basing his operations, the release said. They collected MDMA, Xanax, Alrprazolam, and Buprenorhine pills, along with 37 grams of crack cocaine, 249 grams of powered cocaine, 37 grams of fentanyl and $4,000 in cash. The drugs from both warrants had a street value in excess of $70,000.
Flowers and Courtney Williams. 35, of Georgia Pacific Road, were arrested. Williams was arrested in the parking lot of a local business. Flowers faced more than 40 separate drug charges from the case, and was turned over to federal authorities for prosecution.
Flowers’s criminal record dates back to 1995, when he was convicted of assault with intent to kill and robbery with a dangerous weapon for robbing a Hasty Mart Store. During the robbery, Flowers shot a customer in the neck.
In 2004, he pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon after robbing a BB&T bank. In 2016, Flowers pled guilty to possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine and to delivering cocaine.
As the sentencing judge noted at Flowers’ hearing, Flowers has also performed poorly while incarcerated awaiting trial, incurring over 30 infractions while serving time for previous convictions.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. Sentencing was by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, the Whiteville Police Department and the Columbus County Sheriff investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons prosecuted the case.
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